Kilcooley Wood Kilcooley Wood Management Plan 2016-2021 Kilcooley Wood MANAGEMENT PLAN - CONTENTS PAGE ITEM Page No. Introduction Plan review and updating Woodland Management Approach Summary 1.0 Site details 2.0 Site description 2.1 Summary Description 2.2 Extended Description 3.0 Public access information 3.1 Getting there 3.2 Access / Walks 4.0 Long term policy 5.0 Key Features 5.1 Informal Public Access 5.2 New Native Woodland 6.0 Work Programme Appendix 1: Compartment descriptions Glossary MAPS Access Conservation Features Management 2 Kilcooley Wood THE WOODLAND TRUST INTRODUCTION PLAN REVIEW AND UPDATING The Trust¶s corporate aims and management The information presented in this Management approach guide the management of all the plan is held in a database which is continuously Trust¶s properties, and are described on Page 4. being amended and updated on our website. These determine basic management policies Consequently this printed version may quickly and methods, which apply to all sites unless become out of date, particularly in relation to the specifically stated otherwise. Such policies planned work programme and on-going include free public access; keeping local people monitoring observations. informed of major proposed work; the retention Please either consult The Woodland Trust of old trees and dead wood; and a desire for website www.woodlandtrust.org.uk or contact the management to be as unobtrusive as possible. Woodland Trust The Trust also has available Policy Statements ([email protected]) to confirm covering a variety of woodland management details of the current management programme. issues. There is a formal review of this plan every 5 The Trust¶s management plans are based on the years and a summary of monitoring results can identification of Key Features for the site and be obtained on request. setting objectives for their management. A monitoring programme (not included in this plan) ensures that these objectives are met and any necessary management works are carried out. Any legally confidential or sensitive species information about this site is not included in this version of the plan. 3 Kilcooley Wood WOODLAND MANAGEMENT APPROACH The management of our woods is based on our charitable purposes, and is therefore focused on improving woodland biodiversity and increasing peoples¶understanding and enjoyment of woodland. Our strategic aims are to: Protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future Work with others to create more native woodlands and places rich in trees Inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees All our sites have a management plan which is freely accessible via our website www.woodlandtrust.org.uk. Our woods are managed to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard 8.:$6 DQGDUHFHUWLILHGZLWKWKH)RUHVW6WHZDUGVKLS&RXQFLO )6& XQGHUOLFHQFH)6& C009406 and through independent audit. In addition to the guidelines below we have specific guidance and policies on issues of woodland management which we review and update from time to time. We recognise that all woods are different and that the management of our sites should also reflect their local landscape and where appropriate support local projects and initiatives. Guidelines like these provide a necessary overarching framework to guide the management of our sites but such management also requires decisions based on local circumstances and our Site Manager¶s intimate knowledge of each site. The following guidelines help to direct our woodland management: 1. Our woods are managed to maintain their intrinsic key features of value and to reflect those of the surrounding landscape. We intervene when there is evidence that it is necessary to maintain or improve biodiversity and to further the development of more resilient woods and landscapes. 2. We establish new native woodland using both natural regeneration and tree planting, but largely the latter, particularly when there are opportunities for involving people. 3. We provide free public access to woods for quiet, informal recreation and our woods are managed to make them accessible, welcoming and safe. 4. The long term vision for our non-native plantations on ancient woodland sites is to restore them to predominantly native species composition and semi-natural structure, a vision that equally applies to our secondary woods. 5. Existing semi-natural open-ground and freshwater habitats are restored and maintained wherever their management can be sustained and new open ground habitats created where appropriate. 6. The heritage and cultural value of sites is taken into account in our management and, in particular, our ancient trees are retained for as long as possible. 7. Woods can offer the potential to generate income both from the sustainable harvesting of wood products and the delivery of other services. We will therefore consider the potential to generate income from our estate to help support our aims. 8. We work with neighbours, local people, organisations and other stakeholders in developing the management of our woods. We recognise the benefits of local community woodland ownership and management. Where appropriate we allow our woods to be used to support local woodland, conservation, education and access initiatives. 9. We use and offer the estate where appropriate, for the purpose of demonstration, evidence gathering and research associated with the conservation, recreational and sustainable management of woodlands. In particular we will develop and maintain a network of long-term monitoring sites across the estate. 10 Any activities we undertake will conform to sustainable forest management principles, be appropriate for the site and will be balanced with our primary objectives of enhancing the biodiversity and recreational value of our woods and the wider landscapes. 4 Kilcooley Wood SUMMARY This public management plan briefly describes the site, specifically mentions information on public access, sets out the long term policy and lists the Key Features which drive management actions. The Key Features are specific to this site ±their significance is outlined together with their long (50 year+) and short (5 year) term objectives. The short term objectives are complemented by a detailed Work Programme for the period of this management plan. Detailed compartment descriptions are listed in the appendices which include any major management constraints and designations. A short glossary of technical terms is at the end. The Key Features and general woodland condition of this site are subject to a formal monitoring programme which is maintained in a central database. A summary of monitoring results is available on request. 1.0 SITE DETAILS Site name: Kilcooley Wood Location: Bangor Grid reference: J481802, OS 1:50,000 Sheet No. 15 Area: 4.72 hectares (11.66 acres) Designations: 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1 Summary Description One of the few publicly accessible green spaces within this busy urban area, used and enjoyed by many. Lesser celandine and pockets of bluebells in Spring. Summer months bring early purple orchids. Flat terrain and paths suitable for pushchairs. 5 Kilcooley Wood 2.2 Extended Description Kilcooley is a long narrow woodland creation site positioned on the outer edge of Kilcooley Housing Estate on the SW edge of the town of Bangor in Northern Ireland. It is flanked, on the southern side, by the Rathgael Road and Clandeboye Estate, and on the northern side by Kilcooley Housing Estate. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive leased the land to the Trust in 1997 for a 999 year period. It is one of 51 Woods On Your Doorstep (WoyD) sites in Northern Ireland. The development and first 5 years maintenance of the 51 sites were 50% funded by the Millennium Commission. Following consultation with the local community, facilitated by Kilcooley Community Forum, the 4.94 ha site was planted by contractors and the local community in 1998. Each child in Kilcooley Primary School (adjacent to the site) planted a tree, as did many local Guides as part of a UK wide Environment Challenge scheme within the Guide Association. Once part of a dairy farm, most of the site had been maintained as short mown grass for 25 years by the Housing Executive. It is now planted with a mixture of native broadleaved trees dominated by oak, with a willow/alder/birch mixture in the wetter areas. Old maps show that the whole site was once wooded and there are clumps of bluebells remaining on the bank on the road edge and marsh marigold thriving in the wetter areas. It now acts as a buffer to the mature Clandeboye woodland and birds of prey such as Buzzards and Sparrowhawks have been seen within it. The SE end of the site and a strip in the centre of compartment 1B are wet woodland, a priority habitat, believed to be linked to an overflow pipe from the lake in the Clandeboye Estate. Frogspawn appears in the sitting water in springtime. The very SE edge of the site hides a river that was culverted in 1987 by the Housing Executive. Areas of compartment 1B have very low fertility and were possibly covered with rubble when Kilcooley Estate was built. Early purple orchids flourish (common in NI) along many of the path edges in this compartment. Public access is integral to this WoyD site. A circular path network was drawn up in consultation with the local community. The main path from Ferngrove (sheltered housing) through both sides of the site is hardcore. This was grant aided by BT Countryside For All and the North Down District Partnership. The remainder are maintained grass paths. Access is gained through a series of kissing gates and squeeze posts. Forest Service granted Community Woodland Supplement for the whole site. There is an open area in compartment 1B, part of which has a hardcore base. The site was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2014. 3.0 PUBLIC ACCESS INFORMATION 3.1 Getting there 6 Kilcooley Wood Public access exists through kissing gates from both sides of Drumhirk Drive, the Rathgael Road at Ferngrove, and at various points along the wooden fence on the Kilcooley boundary.